New Delhi, June 25: Manpreet Singh is regarded as one of the most prominent players in the Indian men’s hockey team. Throughout his international career, Manpreet has achieved milestones that every athlete dreams of. Under his captaincy, India ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought by winning a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Born on June 26, 1992, in Meethapur village near Jalandhar, Punjab, Manpreet was inspired by his elder brother, who was also a hockey player. Initially, his mother was against his pursuit of the sport, viewing hockey as dangerous. However, through determination and hard work, Manpreet earned his family’s trust. He was later enrolled in the Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, where he honed his skills and never looked back.
After making a name for himself at the domestic level, Manpreet shone on the international stage as well. He played a crucial role in securing a gold medal for the Indian team at the 2014 Asian Games. His impressive performance continued in the 2017 Asia Cup, and he led the team to remarkable victories in the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023 and 2024.
However, the pinnacle of Manpreet’s career came in 2021 when he captained the Indian team to win an Olympic medal after 41 years at the Tokyo Olympics. The team achieved a historic bronze medal, marking India’s return to the Olympic podium since 1980.
Manpreet holds the record for the most international matches played by an Indian player, recently surpassing the legendary Dilip Tirkey’s record of 412 matches. In 2019, he was named the International Hockey Federation’s ‘Player of the Year,’ becoming the first Indian to receive this honor. For his memorable contributions to hockey, he was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2018 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
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